Chapter 3

The Basic Wardrobe

OBJECTIVES:

1. To be able to choose your wardrobe for work wisely

2. To be able to identify what is called a “basic wardrobe”
3. To be able to develop your own style
4. To be able to enumerate some shopping rules
5. To be able to identify some factors on the choice of
colors that fit your personality

Treat your wardrobe as you would your cash. Follow the advice of
this book and you will develop an eye for quality and good bargain buys
which will ensure you will make fashionably good choices for work. If your
work has a uniform, lucky you, but if you have to make choices for your
daily needs, then you have to make wise choices to consider your peso
value and look smart. We suggest it is time to get clever about how you
spend your pesos Coco Chanel, a woman who knew fashion like a model
knows food- combining, had this good advice “All one needs are two or
three suits, as long as they, and everything to go with them, are perfect.”
In theory she is right-only now, a pair of pants is a necessity, too Plan your
long- term wardrobe, especially if your budget is limited. Only boy pieces
that you can’t live without, and don’t be tempted to spend a lot on
disposable trends. Your fashion investment portfolio starts here.

FASHION FINESSE

Clothing is for protection, comfort, modesty, and enhancement of

your beauty. To put on anything that is in appropriate, gaudy, vulgar, or
other wise offensive to others detracts from your appearance.
 In our current society, clothes are an important and revealing part of
life-beyond basic protection against the elements. They are a statement of
individuality, status, creativity. How fortunate we are that contemporary
attitudes allow for a good deal of leeway to exercise innovation and flair.
This freedom does, however, often bring about confusion because many
men and women are in a quandary about what to buy and what to wear
for certain occasions. Some guidelines to avoid expensive or embarrassing
mistakes while developing your personal style are:

Appropriateness above all — the best rule is always to dress within

the bounds of classic good taste. A sense of pro-priety, dictated by the
occasion and the company, is necessary. Good materials and lines
embellished with elegance — rather than flamboyance or modish
extremes — are the unfailing guidelines that will ensure you comfort and
ease. Appropriateness is determined by a number of factors, and can
change dramatically from situation to situation. Outside or indoors, mixed
ages or peers, geography, building event and the weather can affect one’s
mode of dress fashion is serious. What you wear reveals a significant
message about you and your world. Even if you do not care about clothes
per se, they communicate much about your attitudes toward the occasion,
your company, and yourself. In the morning you make a decision about
what to wear to which others respond all day long. Think of your clothes
as the most communicative factor after your face and eyes personal style
is how you send nonverbal messages.

One dresses out of consideration for others as well as for one’s own
self-image. No one wants to fade into the woodwork. It is nice sometimes
to lead the pack, and quite naturally you want your clothing to
communicate the feeling that you “belong” Your goal is a wardrobe of
clothes that are right for your body, your personality, your environment,
and the specific occasion.

MAKING CHOICES
 In 1970, young fashion was blue jeans and a T-shirt. A generation
later, the young dressed up again. There are many alternatives in fashion
today. If you learn a bit about fashion history, by visiting museums and
reading books, you might use your knowledge to bring to your dress some
lovely touches — a shawl — a belt, not only because they look good on
you and are comfortable and practical, but also because they add
character to your clothes. Dress conservatively. Simplicity, expressed in
the highest quality fabric and the most intelligent design, has a special
elegance. “I’ve worn it ten years and I now feel comfortable in it.” It is the
comfort and self-confidence that the old favorites brought that make you
feel “at home.”

The most exciting thing about fashion in the artistic expression it

permits. If you have a sense of fashion’s past, you can indulge in
appropriate whimsy mix and match and feel comfortable and at ease. The
look must befit you and the occasion. View the fashion of the present and,
based upon your knowledge of the past, calculate its future as it relates to
you and your lifestyle.

What transforms a mere garment into a work of art and makes the
person wearing it shine? Your ability to poll it together and carry it off well.
Beyond personal qualities, a number of precise elements interact to
create fashion line, color, texture, mass, and movement. A good designer
combines these qualities and so does the inspired clothes wearer. When
you learn what clothes are right for you for your face, your figure, your
personality, your lifestyle you become immune to the “rages” of
commercial trend-makers. You can reject passing fancies, and recognize
timeless quality when you see it. The Italian and French Vogue are more
aesthetically focused and American Vogue more consumer-practical. Look
at museum catalogues, too, for authentic copies of historic belts, scarves,
and jewelry to add a touch of the past to today, a first step in learning
who you really are is to take a good look at yourself and what you do.
Then decide in which general category sporty, tailored, romantic, or
sophisticated you feel the most comfortable. Remember that the choice is
not static and does not forbid some crossing over for variety and
experimentation. You are growing and changing although many important
traits of your character and personality are set, and you probably have
matured physically to the point where you can determine what type of
clothing suits you best. This is the right time to start planning an
integrated wardrobe of pieces that will work well together a valuable.
Enjoyable leaming experience.

TAKING STOCK

Ask yourself the following questions:

 Has my body size, weight, height, proportion changed?

 Has my lifestyle changed?
 Has my attitude changed?
 Have my friends, school, or workplace changed?
 What amount of time do I have to devote to the upkeep
of my wardrobe?
 What are my monetary limitations?
 What impression do I want to make?
 Do I want to make any changes in my current style?
 How can I express my adaptation of the season’s trends
without sacrificing my fashion statement?
 Is there a role, or roles, I would enjoy acting out through
dressing as 1 seek to discover varied facets of my nature”?

In order to create an image that you want in the eyes of the

beholder, you must be able to convincingly and naturally perform
precisely those acts that will create the desired image.

Whenever people meet you, they form an instant judgment, even if

it’s on a subconscious level. This is what is called “first impression”. This is
on a visual level and it crystallizes even before you even open your
mouth.
 Ninety percent of that first impressions is an impression of your
clothing. The second impression is formed after you utter your first
sentence, which forms the 10% of that first impression.

In those first crucial moments the viewer is forming that impression

and making decision concerning the following factors:

1. Economic level - is he rich or poor? Is he working or

unemployed?
2. Educational level - Is he a high school or college
graduate? Maybe he is an attorney or doctor?
3. Social position - Does he live in one of the villages?
Does he belong to the upper socio-economic level or the lower
level?
4. Level of sophistication - Is he the party-hopping type,
the social register type? Probably he is the “provinciano type.
5. Family background - What is his social, educational,
and economic heritage? Assumptions about these are made. What is
the position of the family in the community? Are they known by their
family names or not?
6. Successfulness - Is he successful? Does he have a car,
a house and lot? Is he important in his company? Is he known by his
business associates and peers?
7. Moral character - Does he look honest? Is he the type
who will put one over others? Will he cheat me?

You may protest. That’s unfair! You can’t judge a book by its cover!
But you do! Over the years, you’ve learned to read a person’s clothing,
appearance, expressions, and gestures. It’s a silent language, a visual
shorthand, and helps you form decisions about the other person’s
honesty, background, friendliness, attitude, and intent. You may not be
aware you are making these decisions. But you do, even if on an
unconscious level.

This procedure is exemplified, especially among Filipino families,

when their children have found a new friend, or worse still, when they
introduce the person they will marry to members of their family. The
process of “what family does he belong to? Where is he from? Where does
his father work? Where does he get his income and so on and so forth is
made.”

When you see a person with a loose baggy dress, long, unruly hair,
dirty shoes, heavy perspiration smell, and a sack what is your impression?
In contrast to this, when you see a man in a priest’s clothing, will you
hesitate to open the door for him?

ASSEMBLING A BASIC WARDROBE

The Basics

Basics are the mainstays of your wardrobe, the treasures upon

which to sprinkle the sugar and spice of the season’s trends. A good basic
wardrobe is money in the bank, a wonderful resource for unexpected
invitations. Now is the time to experiment with the wardrobing principle
that suits, skirts, sweaters, coats, tailored and softly feminine daytime
dresses are lifelong items, which require only a dash of accent to keep up
with fashion. Fancy party clothes, which rarely wear out, may be
considered almost as costumes and need not be expensive at this stage of
your life: Two or three basic formals will provide excellent mileage.

How many of you have P5,000 lying around that you can spend
immediately for a new wardrobe. This section will give you a step-by-step
advice on how to assemble a basic wardrobe on a limited budget.

1. Clean up your closet - go through your clothes in your

closet and cabinets. It is impossible to have a well-planned,
successful look when your closet is full of odds and ends that you
have bought through the years. Start with a pile of “if only” items.
These are items that you could wear “if only” I were thinner, “if
only” it were not out of style, “if only” there are no missing buttons,
etc.
 After you have gotten rid of the “if only items, next discard
items you have not worn in a year or so. After you have gotten rid of
the unworn and unwearable, the next step is to arrange everything
that is left. Donate the ones you have removed to your favorite
charity.
Hang together everything that goes together, coordinate in
one group: dresses in another, party and active wear in another.
Arrange blouses from the lightest shades to darkest. The same goes
for skirts, pants, and finally, dresses. Keep evening wear separate. If
you are in the beginning stages of assembling a wardrobe, don’t get
discouraged if your closet looks empty. By building slowly and
wisely, you will know when and how to select the right pieces to
add. The day will come when you will enjoy going thru your closet
and feel secure that each piece not only is wearable but also works
well with other pieces that you have and everything looks terrific on
you!
2. Know your figure - Look yourself over in front of a full-
length mirror, –do you have a short figure, a thin frame, small
bones, large bones, are you tall, fat short, slim” know your type
before you start on your shopping trip. Embark on a figure reshaping
before you shop. Young Filipinos are on the thinner side, so there is
not much problem, except to gain a little weight, to have more
“figure”.
3. Shop wisely… and well - Since your clothing needs
are determined by your lifestyle, ask yourself where you spend 75%
of your time. Is it home, work, school, socials, travel, or sports? You
should also take your budget into consideration. If you are still a
student, from now on, do not buy informal clothes. From now on,
buy more formal skirts and blouses, slacks that are fit for office use.
Prepare yourself early enough for that first interview and that first
job. Start window shopping and look for things that match. Imagine
that a few months from now, you will spend 75% of your time in an
office, so look for clothes that are appropriate for work.
 YOUR CLOSET

Think of your closet as a resource for your lifestyle. Your closet

should be set up exactly like a fine specialty shop. It must be scrupulously
clean and free of junk. Blouses, shirts, skirts or pants, sweaters, dresses
should be grouped together. Colors should be arranged to spark your
imagination. Shoes should be stored in marked boxes at eye level for
quick selection. Robes and evening clothes should be hung so that they do
not touch the floor. One section of the closet might be double- racked to
hang pants, skirts, blouses.

Your dresser drawers should be cleaned frequently and lined – with

scented paper if you choose – and should be partitioned to store panties,
briefs, bras, slips, socks, and hosiery. The latter are best protected in
ziplock plastic bags. Belts can be hung on a man’s tie rack inside the
closet door.

The time spent on keeping your clothes in order will be repaid when
you do not have to hunt for things while dressing for an important party or
when you have overslept on a school morning as an added bonus, your
clothes will last longer and look better.

YOUR SEARCH FOR STYLE

To achieve true style your clothing and accessories must

complement and compliment your body and be an expression of your
individuality. This does not mean that you can ignore style and fashion,
which, incidentally are not synonymous. Style is timeless and fashion is
changing, current, even trendy. Style is lasting and durable while fashion
is fickle and commercial. Style is the best of all past fashions – the
features that have proven to be the most flattering, the most comfortable,
and the most practical.
 Unlike fashion, you cannot buy style with sufficient money, you can
go out and purchase a total seasonal “look,” but style you must cultivate
yourself through a knowledge of what is really beautiful and lasting. It
takes honesty and discipline to evaluate yourself in relation to trends but
style is a priceless quality and one that animates the lifeless garments you
wear. Style must be natural rather than affected, and it usually takes time
to acquire – but one is never too young to start.

DRESSING FOR THE OCCASION

Dressing for the occasion not only upgrades manners, it also

enhances the poise and personality of the host/hostess and her guests
and sparks their spirits. You must develop an eye for fashion, flair, and
style just as you develop an ear for opera or taste for caviar. However,
fashion, flair, and style must be developed under the umbrella of good
taste. Many times it is just as difficult to dress appropriately and in good
taste for an occassion as it is to behave in a mannerly fashion once you
arrive. There are too many temptations to misbehave in dress as there are
in conduct. To avoid them, let good taste be your motto. In dressing to
present yourself properly to others, and to pass the test of the first
impression try to:

 Dress properly to bent the occasion

 Interpret the season’s fashion based upon the timeless
qualities of past traditions
 Incorporate individual flair and style
 Keep a keen sense of appropriateness not only to the
occasion but also to your figure, lifestyle, and age.

As the years pass and you have the opportunity to dress for a
variety of events and occasions, your expertise will develop along with
your instinct in knowing what clothing is appropriate and in good taste.
With patience, study, exposure, expert guidance, and trial and error, your
good taste will become refined and cultivated. Remember it is more
important to adhere to the rules of appropriateness than to the dictates of
fashion.
 SHOPPING RULES

Go shopping alone or with a single friend whose taste you trust.

Avoid a pack of people. Many serious mistakes are made through impulse
buying under pressure of vocal group. Be sure that you are attractively
dressed and groomed, wearing the proper undergarments for the kinds of
clothes you will be trying on. Find a sales- person and tell him what you
are looking for. Listen to his suggestions if he impresses you as
knowledgeable and sincere. Be sure that you return garments to hangers
if you decide against buying them and let the salesperson know your
decision.

When searching for items to add to the clothes you already have,
consider versatility. Do not choose a costly blouse/skirt that goes with
nothing in your closet, or that complements a skirt/pants that may have
only a few months of wear left. Choose what you feel has the staying
power to become a tradition and what works well with your on-hand
wardrobe inventory. Never pick a trend if you feel you could wear it for a
few months only. Treat yourself to a touch of today’s trends but also invest
in timeless traditions – select the best quality you can afford.

Do not overlook underclothing. Not only are the right undergarments

important in achieving a finished look, but fresh and pretty ones make you
feel lovely and sexy. Once your basic wardrobe is ready to go. You can
consider the fun, trendy things, the “dessert” that follows a well-balanced
meal. But as with a chocolate sundae, a little goes a long way. Remember
that you will soon tired of the splashy, especially if everyone is wearing it,
and you will begin to feel that you have lost your identity and taken a step
backward from a style of your own. Remember that establishing a
personal style is your goal. Remember too that to discuss the price of
anything is never in good taste.

SHOPPING STRATEGIES

Preshopping or window shopping is recommended before actual

buying. Clothes are expensive and mistakes are both expensive and time-
consuming. After you have looked over your closet and have removed
clothes that you will no longer use, look at styles in various magazines
and stores. Determine what you need for work and make sure you try on
clothes before buying them to see if they actually fit you. Looking through
magazines and window displays will give you an idea as to what is in style
and what is available. Avoid high-fashion fads, concentrate on
conservative stylish clothes.

Doing your buying during sales is also not such a good idea,
because these buys don’t add up to much in the long run. If time is not
the problem with you, go to the better department stores and boutiques
first, then shop in discount stores if you can find the equivalent
merchandise for less. Larger department stores offer a wider variety of
selection. Department stores also may accept returns while smaller ones
and discount houses may not.

Dressing for a shopping trip - You may find that you get better
treatment if you are dressed than if you wear your blue jeans. Do
consider, though, that you will be on your feet for a long time, so wear
comfortable shoes. Wear makeup. It will give you a better idea of how the
garment will actually look when you wear it for that particular occasion.
You may need to bring other articles of clothing to match with whatever
you are buying example, the color of the blouse to match a particular
skirt, unless you are quite sure of the shade of the article, you have.

To avoid that aimless, drifting feeling when you shop in a store you
are not very familiar with, try to study the layout of the store and shop for
the basic items first. Ask salespersons should you have questions, instead
of going around in circles, looking for departments. You may have to
determine the quality of the salesperson who is helping you. Do not
blindly follow advices. Never buy clothes under pressure if you can
possibly avoid it.

SHOPPING TRAPS TO AVOID

 1. Think twice before shopping with friend. A friend is a
distraction and may keep you from focusing on what you came for.
2. A friend’s taste and aims may be different from yours
3. A friend may choose clothes which he/she would choose
for himself/herself, but not appropriate for you.
4. Avoid shopping out of loneliness, Bake a cake or take up
some sport instead. Shopping for the wrong reasons brings out
wrong results.
5. Don’t shop for bargains. Don’t judge merchandise by its
price tag.

LINES IN CLOTHES

The ideal look is the slim look. Your choice of clothes then should be
aimed at achieving this look. You should take stock of your good and bad
points and select only those outfits whose lines will do the most for you.
An imperfect figure can be given an illusion of slimness by choice of the
proper clothes.

A line can be created by a row of buttons, lace, a seam, fancy

stitches, etc. A line must not emphasize a figure fault but draw the eye
away from it.

The vertical line - The line which runs lengthwise from head to toe
is called a vertical line. It creates an illusion of height and makes a person
look taller. It is ideal for the plump person.

The horizontal line - A line cutting across from side to side is a

horizontal line. It cuts height and adds width. Contrasting colors in two-
piece outfits create horizontal lines and minimize height. The longer the
unbroken area from the hem to the figure, the taller you look. An example
of this is found in the empire style or a bolero-style jacket. The tunic style
or a waist length jacket shortens a person much more.

COLOR: THE LINK IN THE TOTAL LOOK

 The first principle in decorating yourself is understanding not only
what colors are right for you, but which shades and clarities of those
colors you should wear.

Some attributes of colors are lightness, brightness, shades, and

clarity. Light colors transmit more light. Brightness is that attribute by
which an area is judged to emit more or less light. Brightness varies from
invisible to dazzling.

There are advancing colors or warm colors that make an object

appear larger. The retreating colors make a person appear smaller and far
away. The advancing colors are reds, yellows, and oranges. The retreating
ones are blues, greens, and violets.

As to shades of a color, examples of shades of red are brick red, fire

red. And rose red. Clarity refers to the clearness or purity of a color.

What makes color effective? Simply the way it looks on you, against
your skin, your hair, your eyes – in short your overall coloring.

YOUR COLOR SPECTRUM

The primary colors are red, blue, and yellow. Secondary and tertiary
colors are combinations of these red and blue make violet: red and yellow,
make orange, and blue and yellow make green. (see color wheel).

Combinations of colors are:

1. Monochromatic - this color combination results in the use of the

same color, but different shades. An example of this is brown,
light brown, and beige.
2. Complementary - this results in the use of two colors, opposite
each other in the color wheel. Examples are red and green, blue
and yellow, etc.
3. Analogous - this combination uses two colors beside each other
in the color wheel. Examples are blue and green, yellow and
orange, red and purple, etc.
 4. Triadic - this combination is made up of three colors that form an
equidistant triangle on the color wheel. These are purple, green,
and yellow; red, blue and green, etc.

Your best colors are found in your body’s natural color scheme —
your skin, hair, eyes, and lips. The rest of your best colors complement, or
go with, all of your body colors and are equally flattering to wear. Let’s
take some examples:

1. BEIGE Your best beige is the color of your skin. Match it exactly.
2. BROWN Your best brown is your hair color.
3. GRAY If you have reached the gray-hair stage of life, your best
gray is the color of your gray hair. Avoid gray that looks muddy or
dull when placed next to your skin.
4. WHITE OR OFF-WHITES Your best white should not be whiter or
brighter than your teeth. People with brown-beige skin look good
in brownish off-whites. Almost everyone should avoid grayish
whites.
5. RED Your best shade of red is your body’s natural blood color. It
is the color you turn when you blush or flush. You can see it in the
palms of your hands, and the inside of your lower lip.
6. BLUE If blue is your eye color, match it. If it isn’t in your eyes, a
complementary color for you.
7. GREEN Just like blue, the green of your eye color is your best
green. The best green is one with a clear tone closest to a jade or
emerald green. Yellow-greens are harder to wear.
8. YELLOW Most people have yellow in their eyes. The best yellow
to use is one that is not too bright for your coloring. The hardest
to use are lemon yellow and mustard golds.
9. BLACK Some look good in pure black. Others, the best shade
would be a brown black or blue black. If your hair is black, black
will be a very effective color for you.
 10. NAVY Navys can be nautical blue, bright navy, or royal navy.
Your best navy color is determined by noting what it does to your
skin tone. If it dulls it, avoid it.

THE MEANING OF COLOR

RED

Red is the color of fire and blood, so it is associated with energy,

war, danger, strength, power, determination as well as passion, desire and
love. Red is very emotionally intense color. It enhances human
metabolism, increases respiration rate, and raises blood pressure. It has
very high visibility, which is why stop sign, stoplights, and fire equipment
are usually painted red. In heraldry, red is used to indicate courage. It is a
color found in many national flags. Red brings text and images to the
foreground. Use it as an accent color to estimate people to make quick
decisions, it is a perfect color for “Buy Now” or “Click Here buttons on
internet banners and websites. In advertising, red is often used to evoke
erotic feelings (red lips, red nails, red light districts, “Lady in Red”, etc.)
Red is widely used to indicate danger (high voltage signs, traffic lights).
This color is also commonly associated with energy, so you can use it
when promoting energy drinks, games, cars, items related to sports and
high physical activity

Light Red - represents joy, sexuality, passion, sensitivity and love.

Pink - signifies romance, love, and friendship. It denotes feminine

qualities and passiveness.

Dark red -is associated with vigor, will- power, rage, anger,
leadership, courage, longing malice, and wrath.

Brown-suggests stability and denotes masculine qualities

Reddish brown - is associated with harvest and fall.

ORANGE
 Orange combines the energy of red and the happiness of yellow. It is
associated with joy, sunshine, and the tropics. Orange represents
enthusiasm, fascination, happiness, creativity, determination, attraction,
success, encouragement, stimulation. To the human eye, orange is a very
hot color, so it gives the sensation of heat. Nevertheless, orange is not as
aggressive as red. Orange increases oxygen supply to the brain, produces
an invigorating effect, and stimulates mental activity. It is highly accepted
among young people. As a citrus color, orange is associated with healthy
food and stimulates appetite. Orange is the color of fall and harvest. In
heraldry, orange is symbolic of strength and endurance.

Orange has very high visibility, so you can use it to catch attention
and highlight the most important elements of your design. Orange is very
effective for promoting food products and toys.

Dark orange - can mean deceit and distrust

Red orange - corresponds to desire, sexual passion, pleasure,

domination, aggression and thirst for action

Gold - evokes the feeling of prestige The meaning of gold is

illumination, wisdom, and wealth. God often symbolizes high quality

YELLOW

Yellow is the color of sunshine. It is associated with joy, happiness,

intellect, and energy. Yellow produces a warming effect, arouses
cheerfulness, stimulates mental activity, and generates muscle energy.
Yellow is often associated with food. Bright, pure yellow is an attention
getter, which is the reason taxicabs are painted this color When overused,
yellow may have a disturbing effect, it is known that babies cry more in
yellow rooms. Yellow is seen before other colors when placed against
black, this combination is often used to issue a warning. In heraldry,
yellow indicates honor and loyalty. Later the meaning of yellow was
connected with cowardice. Use yellow to evoke pleasant, cheerful feelings.
You can choose yellow to promote children’s products and items related to
leisure. Yellow is very effective for attracting attention, so use it to
highlight the most important elements of your design. Men usually
perceive yellow as a very lighthearted, “childish color, so it is not
recommended to use yellow when selling prestigious, expensive products
to men nobody will buy a yellow business suit or a yellow Mercedes. Yellow
is an unstable and spontaneous color, so avoid using yellow if you want to
suggest stability and safety. Light yellow tends to disappear into white, so
it usually needs a dark color to highlight it. Shades of yellow are visually
unappealing because they loose cheerfulness and become dull. Yellow
represents caution, decay. Sickness and jealousy.

Light yellow is associated with intellect, freshness and joy.

GREEN

Green is the color of nature It symbolizes growth, harmony,

freshness, and fertility. Green has strong emotional correspondence with
safety. Dark green is also commonly associated with money. Green has
great healing power. It is the most restful color for the human eye, it can
improve vision. Green suggests stability and endurance. Sometimes green
denotes lack of experience, for example, a “greenhorn is a novice. In
heraldry, green indicates growth and hope Green, as opposed to red,
means safety, it is the color of free passage in road traffic. Use green to
indicate safety when advertising drugs and medical products. Green is
directly related to nature, so you can use it to promote “green” products.
Dull, darker green is commonly associated with money, the financial
world, banking, and Wall Street.

Dark green - is associated with ambition, green and jealousy

Yellow green - can indicate sickness, cowardice, discord and

jealousy

Aqua - is associated with emotional healing and protection

Olive green - is the traditional color peace

BLUE
 Blue is the color of the sky and sea. It is associated with depth and
stability. It symbolizes trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence, intelligence,
faith, truth, and heaven. Blue is considered beneficial to the mind and
body. It slows human metabolism and produces as calming effect. Blues
strongly associated with tranquility and calmness. Blue is used to
symbolize piety and sincerity. You can use blue to promote products and
services related to cleanliness (water purification filters, cleaning liquids,
and vodka) air and sky (airlines, airports, air conditioners) water and sea
(sea voyages, mineral water). As opposed, to suggest precision when
promoting high-tech products. Blue is masculine color, according to
studies, it is highly accepted among males. Dark blue is associated with
depth, expertise, and stability, it is preferred color for corporate America.
Avoid using blue when promoting food and cooking, because blue
suppresses appetite. When used together with warm colors like yellow or
red, blue can create high-impact, vibrant designs. For example, blue-
yellow-red is a perfect color scheme for a superhero.

Light blue is associated with health, healing, tranquility,

understanding, and softness.

Dark blue represents knowledge, power, integrity and seriousness.

PURPLE

Purple combines the stability of blue and the energy of red. Purple is
associated with royalty. It symbolizes power, nobility, luxury, and
ambition. It conveys wealth and extravagance. Purple is associated with
wisdom, dignity, independence, creativity, mystery and magic.

According to surveys, almost 75 percent of pre-adolescent children

prefer purple to all other colors. Purple is a very rare color in nature, some
people consider it to be artificial. Light purple is a good choice for a
feminine design. You can use bright purple when promoting children’s
products.
 Light purple evokes romantic and nostalgic feelings

Dark purple evokes gloom and sad feelings. It can cause

frustration

BASICS: SPEND A LITTLE OR A LOT

Investing wisely in clothes you will wear forever means

understanding the difference between everyday basics you can’t live
without and those singular pieces that you fall in love with at first sight
and keep for years. Basics are all about fit and functionality — the well-cut
suit that get you through endless workdays or a dressy evening skirt that
always looks appropriate. Depending on your needs you can choose to
spend a little or a lot on these work clothes.

Your fashion Investment Worksheet

If you have a clear understanding of your figure strengths and your

lifestyle, you will be able to invest wisely in your wardrobe. We have put
together a list of questions to ask yourself in order to get a clearer
understanding of your wardrobe needs. Read through the list below and
consider these points before your next shopping spree.

Know yourself - What items in your wardrobe have you had the
most wear out of a perfect black blazer? A pair of black pants that make
you feel thin? The perfect skirt that you can dress up or down?

How do you spend most of your time? Staying home? Working in the
kitchen? Sitting at a desk? Meeting with clients?

Do you take your clothes to the cleaners or do you wash and iron
them yourself? Do you have your clothes altered to fit you perfectly?

How often do you go out in the evening and where do you usually
go? Pizza and a movie? A cocktail party with clients? Out all night at a
club?

How much do you travel and where? Choose three adjectives to

describe yourself. Do they also describe what you wear”
 Know your Resources-Where do you usually shop? At a mall? At a
boutique in your neighborhood? From catalogues and magazines?

Who makes your favorite suit? Pair of pants? Jeans?

Know your body - What is your best physical asset? Long legs?
Long neck A dark or white complexion? What can you wear that will put
the focus where you want it? A short skin? An off-the-shoulder top? A shirt
in a gorgeous color?

What items of clothing always makes your body look its best? A
well-cut suit? Have you ever bought more than one item at a time?

Do you usually wear flats or heels? This will affect the proportion
and shape of the pants and skirts you wear.

Do you want to attract attention with your clothes or look quietly

well-put together” How much of your body do you usually reveal?

Know about the cost per wear – If price alone is making you
flinch, apply the peso-per-wear. If P100 a blazer might seem cheap, it may
not be a bargain if you wear it only three times. But a P500 blazer is good
value if you wear it for three or more years Also ask yourself whether you
can really afford a big purchase how many hours of work would it take to
pay it off? If you spend more than 20 per cent of your pay check on
clothes, you need to think twice.

Skirt The cost of an evening skirt in satin or heavy silk will pay off if
you regularly attend big events A designer version is usually lined,
topstitching or details such as mother-of-pearl buttons contribute to the
perfect effect.

Pants A great pair of black pants is a cornerstone of every hard-

working wardrobe for both men and women. Invest in a well-cut pair in a
high-quality menswear or womenswear gabardine or wool crepe or find a
cut that suits you from a less expensive brand and buy at least two pairs.
 FACTORS AFFECTING CHOICE OF COLORS

A person should know how to colors more effectively to enhance her

personality. Choice of color is no expensive, but it can add a lot to achieve
that smart look.

Everybody can use the same colors or color combinations. In order

to achieve this taste for colors, one must observe discriminately and
develop the taste for colors.

1. Color of skin, eyes, and hair - The Filipino’s “kayumanggi”

complexion looks best in shades of coral, orange reds, browns, greenish
blues. If you have a rosy complexion, you will look well in shades of red
and orange fonts. Beige with touches of brown is flattering for you.

2. Personality - Your personality in important factor in the choice of

colors. The colors should make you feel right. A bright, red dress may
disturb you if you are shy and retiring. If you are a dynamic person, a
delicate pastel may not look right on you.

3. Occasion - Office clothes should not be as bright as sports

clothes. Evening clothes should be more dramatic than daytime clothes.
As a whole, office clothes should be more conservative, more subdued
than clothes for social occasions.

SKIRTS - Skirts are a working woman’s chief means of multiplying

her wardrobe. She should have at least one straight style, with a split or
pleat. A — line skirts are also basic and figure -flattering. The softly
gathered skirt is another easy style to wear and work with. Pleated styles,
on the other hand, generally require a taller, thinner figure to look most
attractive. Two solid skirts, a third in a plaid, and a fourth in a print in the
styles mentioned earlier, offer the most possibilities for combinations.
 BLOUSES - The most popular blouse is the man-tailored blouse with
sports collar and front buttons. This is popularly called the “trubenized
shirt, only a few basic colors are needed to have a variety of uses beige,
cream, and white. Blouses with pleats and tucks or shirring, add a touch of
softness and femininity to skirts. Use blouses to provide the second or
third color to an outfit example, with a white of gray skirt, you can use
green or red blouse. For patterns, you can have striped, plaid, or floral
blouses to provide color and interest Blouses can be long sleeved or short
sleeved.

SUITS - For junior executives to the executive level, suits are a

must. The basic linen or light wool suit is an invaluable fashion must for
the working man/woman. It can go anywhere and can be dressed up or
down depending upon the occasion. Look for simple lines a perfect fit and
little detail. The skirt should be either A-lined, or moderately flared. A
dress with a jacket could be an attractive alternative to a suit. Accessories
can keep your suit looking different each time.

BLAZERS - Blazers and jackets are very much a part of today’s

look. The combination of a jacket’s style and fabric determines how dressy
it is. You might start with a black or gray blazer, pairing it with a slightly A-
lined or slim skirt. The blazer can also be worn over some dresses.

DRESSES - A basic daytime dress should be chosen for versatility.

The most common office dress is the shirt-waist which looks like a
“trubenized” man-tailored bodice with front buttons, usually all the way
down to the skirt.

This is worn with a loosely fitting belt made of the same material.
The sheath style dress has no waist, but is also tied loosely with a belt to
give it that casual look. Traditional fabrics are jersey, lightweight wool
crepe, cotton, gabardine, rayon, or silk. The best all-around shades are
rose, peach, mocha, cream, and tan.
 You should have at least one dress in a solid color, preferably in a
neutral shade and a lightweight fabric. Avoid printed dresses for the office,
because they are easily recognized and dated.

Long or three-quarters sleeves give a dressier appearance. Having

your dress and suit of the same color and texture. Allows you to
interchange the same accessories. A street-length, just above the knee or
on-the-knee, is most practical.

EVENING WEAR - This falls into three categories: formal, informal,

and leisure. Formal is usually a long evening dress. This should be as
simple and elegant if it is meant to be worn for many occasions. Informal
could be a two piece outfit like a long skirt of wide leg pants, blouses,
scarves, and probably velvet blazers Dresses should be of soft fabrics, like
quiana, jersey, or chiffon

MEN FASHIONS - For the office, the most common attire is a polo
barong or barong shirt for formal meetings. Polo shirts with sports collar is
acceptable for clerks and messengers. For evening wear, the most
acceptable dress for men is the barong in jusi or the suit or “coat and tie,”
and of course the tuxedo in the most formal occasions.

MEN’S BUSINESS SUIT

Business wear for men is fairly uniform and differences depend on

the individual’s nationality, profession, and location. The most formal
businessman’s outfit is a dark suit with a white or light blue shirt and
conservative tie. There are three main categories of suit cut: (1) the Ivy
League suit, (2) the updated American cut, and (3) the Continental suit.
The latter is the most fashionable having large shoulders and more
exaggerated lapel. The native barong or polo barong, short sleeves for
informal and long sleeves for formal is also considered correct business
dress.
 “Black tie” which designates a tuxedo is one kind of formal evening
wear. A black suit combined with a crisp white shirt and black satin
accessories exemplifies three solids worn together as a formal outfit.
Combining one pattern (in either suit, shirt, or tie) with solids in the other
areas is foolproof, especially when using the color of the suit as guide for
selecting the tie and shirt color. An example would be a “pin- striped”
navy suit with a solid white or pale blue shirt and a red/gold/navy-striped
tie.

Formal business wear includes:

 suits in wool or natural fibers in neutral or dark colors

 light pastel or geometric-pattern long-sleeve shirts without
button- down collars
 ties in stripes, conservative solid colors, or simple motifs
 conservative accessories (shoes, belts, purses, etc.) in neutral,
blended colors
 combinations of solids and pat- terns, with no more than two
patterns per outfit long-sleeved barong

Informal business wear is worn most often by people in creative

professions, such as advertising, publishing, entertainment, and fashion-
oriented industries, like retailing and manufacturing. A banker in formal
suit would look a little too slick to be acceptable to clients who probably
would be more comfortable with conservative, more predictable apparel,
with no fashion tricks. Informal business wear is often casual. Fabrics like
tweeds, browns, cotton blends are acceptable. A more casual combination
of a dark blazer or sports coat and slacks are acceptable.

Service professions are based on contact between professional

and client in an informal environment. Examples of service professions
are teaching, consumer sales, and public administration. The person in a
service profession must present an image of competence that gains the
respect of his audience.
 Informal business wear includes:

 Sports jacket with mix-and-match ensembles

 Softer, more comfortable pants and colors
 Less somber colors and men can add bolder patterns
 More fashion influences, bolder accessories

It is wise to keep on hand at work, a versatile, dark jacket to pop on

over less formal attire when called to a surprise interview or meeting of
which you must exhibit authority. If you are in the service industry, avoid
shirts and pants in the same color, for they might look like a uniform
typical of the physical occupations.

CARE OF CLOTHING

It goes without saying that care must be taken of your dress and
accessories. As a fashionable young man/woman, you want to assume the
full responsibility for the upkeep of your wardrobe. You do not leave the
clothing you have worn lying around your bedroom or bath, even if the
actual laundering is to be done by someone else. Clothing requires
constant care. Every day, soiled items should be put aside for laundering
or cleaning and necessary repairs. All clothing should be returned to
proper hangers rubber or foam-covered or lovely scented satin ones for
delicate blouses or sweater, hangers with rubber-coated clips for skirts.
Use shaped jacket hangers for blazers Clothing should hang outside the
closet overnight before being returned to its place within a closed area.
Shoes should be stuffed with tissue or with cedar shoe trees (never metal)
to retain their shape and should be cleaned and polished when necessary.

THE TERMS OF DRESS

Casual

Casual dress denotes sports or relaxed attire and is appropriate for

barbecues, patio and pool parties, casual suppers, sporting events. If
guests are to engage in the sport, the tennis dress or shorts, or swimsuit
may be worn. Otherwise, trousers (long or short) and shirts without ties
with a sweater or a sports jacket or blazer (depending upon the weather)
are suitable for a man. A woman may choose slacks or skirts. Skirts may
be mini, short, mid-calf, or long, but only of daytime fabrics.

Informal

Informal dress before six o’clock signifies an afternoon dress for the
woman and for the man “coat and tie” (which before six in the evening
may be a sports jacket or blazer worn with a tie) or a dark or light
business suit (depending upon the season and geographical location).
With the exception of the late afternoon party that may extend beyond six
o’clock or the informal supper, to which the afternoon dress is worn by the
woman and the sports jacket or blazer optional for the man, after six
o’clock the woman may wear a very dressy after- noon dress or a short or
long cocktail, party, or dinner dress or suit of a dressy but conservative
fabric; a dark or light business suit is worn by the man.

Semiformal

Semiformal dress connotes that the woman wears short or long

cocktail, party, or dinner dress or suit of a dressy to very dressy fabric,
evening dress with jacket. Before six o’clock, the man wears a dark suit
and after six may wear a dark suit or a dinner jacket with a black silk bow
tie (properly referred to as dinner jacket, “black tie,” or le smoking, but
commonly called “tuxedo” or “tux”).

Formal

Formal dress means the woman wears a late afternoon dress and
the man a dark suit before six o’clock in the evening After six o’clock,
formal dress falls into two categories: “Black tie” and “White tie.”

“Black Tie”
 “Black tie” denotes a double- or single- breasted dinner jacket with
satin or grosgrain faille lapels; matching trousers without cuffs and with a
narrow strip of faille or satin down the sides to match the lapels of the
dinner jacket; starched white shirt with tucked front and wing or folded
collar and French cuffs, worn with studs and cufflinks; black satin bow tie;
black patent shoes and black silk, stockings; and gray chamois or buck-
skin gloves. When the man wears “black tie,” the woman wears a long or
short dinner dress (or evening separates), which, if strapless or extremely
bare, is worn with a matching or coordinated jacket.

“White Tie”

“White tie” denotes full-dress. The woman wears a ball gown and
real jewelry if she has it. Long above-the-elbow, eighteen-button, white
glace kid gloves may be worn with sleeveless gowns. Gloves need not be
removed when passing through the receiving line or dancing but are
removed when one eats or drinks. The man wears a long black tailcoat
with satin lapels and matching trousers with a narrow braid stripe, black
patent pumps and black silk stockings, white pique waistcoat; starched
white shirt with bib front and French cuffs of pique, worn with studs and
cufflinks; white pique bow tie; and white kid or bleached chamois gloves.
When “White tie” or “tenue de soiree” (evening dress) is written on the
invitation to any public event, full decorations medals, orders, and
miniatures may automatically be worn by the man or the woman, or either
may select the one decoration most appropriate to the particular
occasion. Decorations are not worn to a private party unless the hostess’s
invitation reads “White Tie and Decorations”.